Lamina Cribrosa Microstructure in Nonhuman Primates With Naturally Occurring Peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thinning.

PURPOSE: The lamina cribrosa (LC) is hypothesized to be the site of initial axonal damage in glaucoma with the circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL-T) widely used as a standard metric for quantifying the glaucomatous damage. The purpose of this study was to determine in vivo, 3-dimensional (3D) differences in the microstructure of the LC in eyes of nonhuman primates (NHPs) with naturally occurring glaucoma.

METHODS

Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans (Leica, Chicago, IL, USA) of the optic nerve head were acquired from a colony of 50 adult rhesus monkeys suspected of having high prevalence of glaucoma. The RNFL-T was analyzed globally and in quadrants using a semi-automated segmentation software. From a set of 100 eyes, 18 eyes with the thinnest global RNFL-T were selected as the study group and 18 eyes with RNFL-T values around the 50th percentile were used as controls. A previously described automated segmentation algorithm was used for LC microstructure analysis. Parameters included beam thickness, pore diameter and their ratio (beam-to-pore ratio [BPR]), pore area and shape parameters, beam and pore volume, and connective tissue volume fraction (CTVF; beam volume/total volume). The LC microstructure was analyzed globally and in the following volumetric sectors: quadrants, central and peripheral lamina, and three depth slabs (anterior, middle, and posterior).

RESULTS

Although no significant difference was detected between groups for age, weight, or disc size, the study group had significantly thinner RNFL than the control group (P < 0.01). The study group had significantly smaller global and sectoral pore diameter and larger BPR compared with the control group. Across eyes, the global RNFL-T was associated positively with pore diameter globally. BPR and CTVF were significantly and negatively associated with the corresponding RNFL-T in the superior quadrant.

CONCLUSIONS

Global and sectoral microstructural differences were detected when comparing thin and normal RNFL-T eyes. Whether these LC differences are the cause of RNFL damage or the result of remodeling of the LC requires further investigation.

TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE: Our findings indicate structural alterations in the LC of NHP exhibiting natural thinning of the RNFL, a common characteristic of glaucomatous damage.